VIEW OF ISRAEL AFTER POLLARD

VIEW OF ISRAEL AFTER POLLARD; Further Spy Incidents Could Erode Support

Published: March 7, 1987

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''The argument that Israel was responsible is a silly one,'' said one Israeli, Ehud Sprinzak, a visiting research professor at American University who is writing a book on the Israeli radical right. ''I doubt it hurts,'' he said. ''What hurts is that you have a succession of images of involvement in unclean affairs.''

As for Mr. Shamir's recent visit to Washington, his request that the State Department deny visas to Soviet Jews so that they will settle in Israel irritated American Jewish groups more than Administration officials and members of Congress. And his opposition to considering an international conference to resolve the Palestinian problem, despite acceptance of such a method by Washington and Mr. Shamir's predecessor, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, is seen by most Middle East analysts as the product of legitimate debate and a difference in style, not substance. Another Reminder

Next month, Israel's foreign policy may again come under close scrutiny when the State Department issues its report outlining other nations' arms sales to South Africa. The report to President Reagan is required under the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act that Congress passed last October with a view toward ending military assistance to countries engaged in arms sales to Pretoria.

Israel publicly condemns apartheid but privately maintains an array of commercial and military ties, and the report is expected to serve as another reminder of just how different the foreign policy agendas of Israel and the United States are.

For many members of Congress, none of these problems compare in seriousness to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. ''You can add them all together and you won't measure up to one-tenth of the criticism when the Lebanon war occurred,'' said Representative Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of Brooklyn.

In fact, in other Congressional matters relating to Israel, it appears to be business as usual. Last week, four Senators sent a letter to Secretary of State George P. Shultz expressing opposition to an Administration plan to sell equipment to make I-Hawk anti-aircraft missiles in Jordan mobile, arguing that such a sale would threaten Israel's security.

The letter was signed by Senators Bob Kasten, Republican of Wisconsin, Warren B. Rudman, Republican of New Hampshire, Daniel K. Inouye, Democrat of Hawaii, and Frank R. Lautenberg, Democrat of New Jersey.

Like many Congressmen, American Jewish spokesmen argue that despite the difficulties in the American-Israeli relationship, it will endure. As Israel continues to be involved in incidents that hurt its image, however, many of these spokesmen are becoming more outspoken in their criticism.

What Rabbi Hertzberg and some other Jewish spokesmen find particularly disturbing is the Pollard affair - and the fact that the Israelis used an American Jew to do their spying.

''The fact that he's Jewish concerns us,'' said Hyman H. Bookbinder, special representative of the American Jewish Committee. ''It could lead people to conclude carelessly that American Jews are less than full 100 percent American citizens.''